Bonnie May

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Bonnie May
Bonnie May (1920) - 8.jpg
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Directed by
Based onBonnie May (novel)
by Louis Dodge
Produced byAndrew J. Callaghan
Starring
CinematographySam Landers [1]
Production
companies
Andrew J. Callaghan Productions, Inc. [2]
Distributed byFederated Film Exchanges of America, Inc. [3]
Release date
  • October 17, 1920 (1920-10-17)(U.S.) [3]
Running time
5 reels [4]
CountryUnited States
Language Silent (English intertitles)
Budget$75,000 [5]

Bonnie May is a lost [6] silent 1920 American comedy-drama [7] film based on the 1916 novel by Louis Dodge. [8] [9] It was directed by Ida May Park and Joseph De Grasse [10] and starred Bessie Love. It was produced by Andrew J. Callaghan Productions [2] and distributed by Federated Film Exchanges of America, Inc. [3]

Contents

Plot

An orphaned girl (Love) grows up in the theater. She becomes smarter and stronger, and never loses her optimism. [11]

Cast

Release

As this was Bessie Love's first film with Film Exchanges of America, Inc., it was very heavily promoted. A thirty-eight page press book was created, as well as special souvenir mirrors. [13]

On its release, it was shown with The Son of Tarzan ; Mystic Mush, a Hank Mann comedy; and a Mutt and Jeff cartoon. [7]

After its release, producer Andrew J. Callaghan sued Federated Film Exchanges, saying that the distributor had not paid the full amount to distribute this film, The Midlanders , and Penny of Top Hill Trail . [5]

Reception

The film received positive reviews. [14] Author Louis Dodge, who wrote the novel on which the film is based, highly praised Love's performance. [15]

References

  1. 1 2 Love, Bessie (1977). From Hollywood with Love: An Autobiography of Bessie Love. London: Elm Tree Books. p. 150. OCLC   734075937.
  2. 1 2 "Celebrated Exchange to Handle Feature Films". Moving Picture World. November 13, 1920. p. 200.
  3. 1 2 3 "Federated Exchanges Announce The Release of the First Super-Production Starring Bessie Love. 'Bonnie May'". Exhibitors Herald. October 16, 1920. pp. 30–31.
  4. ↑ "Federated Exchanges". Exhibitors Herald. November 27, 1920. p. 102.
  5. 1 2 "Callaghan Asks Injunction Restraining Federated from Exhibiting Productions". Moving Picture World. August 6, 1921. p. 592.
  6. ↑ The Library of Congress/FIAF American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog:Bonnie May
  7. 1 2 "Stanford Theatre Palo Alto". The Daily Palo Alto. Vol. 59, no. 66. June 3, 1921. p. 4.
  8. ↑ Goble, Alan, ed. (September 8, 2011). The Complete Index to Literary Sources in Film. p. 129. ISBN   978-3-11-095194-3.
  9. ↑ Dodge, Louis (1916). Bonnie May. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons. OCLC   7631985.
  10. ↑ "Two Directors Get Big Results in "Bonnie May"". Exhibitors Herald. September 11, 1920. p. 53.
  11. ↑ "Bessie Love Here in 'Bonnie May'". The Southeast Missourian. December 29, 1920. p. 5.
  12. ↑ Motion Picture Studio Directory and Trade Annual 1921. Motion Picture News, Inc. 1921. pp.  155, 174, 196, 230, 261.
  13. ↑ "'Bonnie May' Given Strong Exploitation". Exhibitors Herald. October 9, 1920. p. 89.
  14. ↑ Riley, R. Ross. "Bonnie May (Federated), with Bessie Love". Exhibitors Herald. Boy, she was a dinger. A good clean story, and real acting.
  15. ↑ "Consider Federated Ideal Medium of Distribution for Any Picture Author Declares that Bessie Love's Portrayal in First Production 'Will Certainly Be a Triumph For Bonnie May'". Exhibitors Herald. September 11, 1920. p. 56. It seems to be an entirely happy inspiration which brought Miss Bessie Love and Bonnie May together. While I had never seen the beautiful and intelligent work of Miss Love at the time I wrote my book, it might almost seem that she had supplied the model for my study. I predict that when Miss Love portrays the character, she will—to paraphrase an old anecdote—not merely enact, but actually be, Bonnie May. It will very certainly be a triumph for Bonnie May. I hope also it will be a triumph for Bessie Love.
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